COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday held a press conference to give updates on the aftermath of the train derailment in East Palestine, but he concluded the briefing by addressing a connected matter that also made headlines this past week.
The last time DeWine spoke with the media on Wednesday in Columbiana County, a reporter from NewsNation was arrested following a confrontation with members of state and local law enforcement. The journalist, Evan Lambert, was accused of being "loud" during his live report given while the governor was speaking, and the ordeal ended with him being tackled to the ground and handcuffed before being booked on misdemeanor charges.
After being made aware of the situation, DeWine stated he did not order Lambert's arrest and publicly defended his right to perform his duties as a reporter. Today, the governor echoed those sentiments, and further called for the charges against Lambert to be dropped.
"I have the same opinion that I had the first day," DeWine said. "It seems to me that everyone would be better off if the [Ohio] attorney general could see fit to ... not proceed with any kind of prosecution."
During last week's announcement of the lifting of the evacuation order around East Palestine, Lambert was live on the air in the back of the school gymnasium, but body camera footage released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows a trooper motioning for him to stop. Ohio National Guard Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. then became involved, and after Lambert's report ended the two verbally sparred and put their hands on one another before being separated by state and local authorities.
Lambert was then asked to leave the gymnasium, but he declined, telling officials, "I'm doing my job that's covered by the First Amendment." He was then led out the doors and told he was being placed under arrest, and after police claim he attempted to pull away, he was taken to the ground by officers as news cameras filmed the altercation.
"This is what it's like to be a Black reporter in 2023," Lambert was heard saying as he was taken into custody.
Lambert was taken to the Columbiana County Jail and charged with resisting and criminal trespassing before being released roughly five hours later. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has since taken over the case due to "the complex nature of the parties involved."
Harris, the Ohio National Guard's leading adjutant general, claimed Lambert came at him in an "aggressive manner" and that he put his hands on his chest "to keep him from bumping into me." However, DeWine stressed that the situation "never should have occurred" in the first place because Lambert "should not have been stopped," and added that he has spoken with Harris about his actions.
"I think the general regrets that," DeWine told the press while declining to say if Harris would face further discipline. "I explained to him how press conferences work and that, frankly, sometimes during a live press conference, someone will be reporting directly. ... They have the right to deliver the news however they want to deliver the news."